throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak 
1
: one that is suggestive of or suited to an earlier time or style
his manners were a throwback to a more polite era
2
a
: reversion to an earlier type or phase : atavism
b
: an instance or product of atavistic reversion
threw back; thrown back; throwing back; throws back
1
: to delay the progress or advance of : check
2
: to cause to rely : make dependent
… they are thrown back upon … native intelligence …—
Michael Novak
Michael Novak3
: reflect
: to revert to an earlier type or phase
Examples of throwback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Hudgens took to Instagram on December 28 to share a rare throwback.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Never afraid to get down to work, the proud papa made a hearty meal with his daughter in tow in this cute throwback.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
The new throwback plates already had brought in more than $6 million in additional revenue for the state by mid-2024.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for throwback
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Noun
The style is the kind still optimistically described as futuristic, though the reopening of a new New Museum in 2025 is a reminder that this future is close to twenty years old, a throwback to a time when smart design and calm authority were still widely believed to be capable of saving the world.
—Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Hudgens took to Instagram on December 28 to share a rare throwback.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Never afraid to get down to work, the proud papa made a hearty meal with his daughter in tow in this cute throwback.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
The new throwback plates already had brought in more than $6 million in additional revenue for the state by mid-2024.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for throwback
Cite this Entry
“Throwback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throwback. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
throwback
noun
throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak
: something that has changed back to an earlier type or phase
Medical Definition
throwback
noun
throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak
1
: reversion to an earlier type or phase : atavism
2
: an instance or product of atavistic reversion
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